Ohio village police chief pleads guilty to charges

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) -- A former southeast Ohio village police chief suspected of helping a woman avoid arrest has pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty and must give up his peace officer certificate.

Former Glouster chief Lucas Mace pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor dereliction counts under a plea agreement Friday in Athens County. The court dismissed six other counts, including felony obstructing justice.

Mace's 100-day jail sentence is suspended if he stays out of legal trouble for two years.

The prosecutor says Mace knew the woman was wanted by authorities and should've arrested her. He says Mace instead let her stay at his house and gave authorities misleading information.

The Athens Messenger (http://bit.ly/1A0yuDC ) reports Mace told the judge hindsight is clearer but that at the time he believed he "was acting in good faith."